MOHEMMED @ BAVA Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a writ petition filed by the petitioner mainly seeking for issue of a writ of mandamus or such other appropriate direction calling upon respondents 1 to 3 to initiate appropriate legal steps for banning respondents 4 to 6 from telecasting the TV serial "Koodathai:The Game of Death", fictionalising the incidents in Crime Nos.332/2019, 333/2019, 334/2019, 335/2019 and 189/2011 of Kodencherry Police Station and Crime No.980/2019 of Thamarasserry Police Station which relate to the commission of murder of six persons in a place called 'Koodathai' in Kozhikode, till the completion of trial of the said criminal cases. Similar prayer for issue of writ of mandamus is sought for initiating legal steps against 7th respondent also who too has taken active steps for producing a movie identically based on the subject matter of same crimes. In addition, the petitioner seeks a writ of prohibition also to be issued by this Court against respondents 4 to 6 restraining them from telecasting the above TV serial till the culmination of the trial of the criminal cases.

(2.) Altogether six separate crimes relating to the death of six members of a family called "Pannamattam" in a place by name Koodathai, having taken place at different times, were registered against one Jolly, who is the same accused in all the crimes. She is also a member of the same family of the deceased persons.

(3.) The petitioner and his mother are close neighbours of Pannamattam family in Koodathai and are also key witnesses in the murder cases. The investigation in all the six crimes was completed and final reports were also submitted before the concerned courts. Two among them were already committed and the trial has not yet started in any of the cases till date.